Goldfish tend to come in two very different forms, the pond-hardy breeds which are classically ‘fish-shaped fish’ with streamlined bodies and single tails, then the fancy varieties with a wide range of shapes and finnage. Both of these groups are the same species (Carassius auratus) but are kept in very different ways. Amongst the varieties which blur the boundary are Wakin, a Japanese breed which is a popular pond fish in its homeland and fully hardy in the UK climate. Although double-tailed, these elegant fish still have the standard goldfish body shape and also have a yellow form, rare in their fancier cousins. This batch were looking good at our Shrewsbury store.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/pond-fish/wakin-goldfish

There’s something very regal about large angelfishes, and the bold and beautiful Passer angel (Holacanthus passer) is also known as the King angelfish. This monarch needs spacious accommodation and tankmates that are either dramatically different enough to be ignored, or sufficiently robust to shrug off a royal tantrum occasionally. When properly kept, they enjoy a long reign so plan accordingly before taking on a fish capable of living longer than a dog or cat. This subadult was at our Mere Park branch.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/angelfish-dwarf-angelfish/passer-angelfish

With such a diverse family, there’s a catfish for pretty much every freshwater community aquarium. One of the forgotten treasures for the larger set up is the handsome Black lancer (Bagrichthys macracanthus) an Asian species which combines well with barbs and other shoaling fishes too large to be swallowed whole. Easily overlooked in our stock tanks due to their shy nature, these ones at Sanders were coaxed out for a photo, before having their favourite hiding spots restored.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/catfish/black-lancer-catfish

Plants have many important roles to perform in the water garden and one of the most important is hiding the liner or blurring the boundary between the pond and the surrounding planting. One of the best species for this job is the golden form of the native Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’). This all-rounder is popular with newts as an egg laying site, as well as providing flowers for pollinators and a carpet of foliage that supresses weeds and shelters young amphibians when they leave the pond.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/plant/aquarium-plants/lysimachia-nummularia-aurea-

Marine fishes often have personalities that match their vivacious colours and patterns, some of the biggest characters are the hawkfishes. This Coral hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) at our Cwmbran store was displaying the curiosity and awareness that makes them such great pets, although they do extend that curiosity to any small shrimps or motile inverts in a reef aquarium, whilst being 100% safe around corals. As well as perching like hawks, they have a tendency to take flight (albeit not for long) and shouldn’t be added to an aquarium that doesn’t have a well-fitted cover.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/miscellaneous-fish/coral-hawkfish